Jagged, translucent edge to baby's carapace

gelablake

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Hello! I received our 6 month old leopard tortoise one month ago. Its humidity is high, temperatures around 85f, and usb lamp during the day. It is eating and looks healthy when interacting with it. However, its shell looks more jagged and I don't know if this is normal, if it is how they grow or if it something I should be worried upload_2019-5-11_0-2-49.jpeg
upload_2019-5-11_0-2-27.jpeg upload_2019-5-11_0-2-7.jpeg
 

ascott

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Hello! I received our 6 month old leopard tortoise one month ago. Its humidity is high, temperatures around 85f, and usb lamp during the day. It is eating and looks healthy when interacting with it. However, its shell looks more jagged and I don't know if this is normal, if it is how they grow or if it something I should be worried View attachment 271907
What do you mean "jagged"?
 

Lyn W

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Hi and welcome,
The shell looks ok to me, but my leopard was older when I got him, so hopefully someone with who's had a baby leopard will let you know if that's normal or not at his age.
Do you think it's changed since you've had him..........maybe chipped it? Some older pics of him to compare them that may help.
Do you use calcium in his diet?
If you post some pics of his enclosure members can see of there's anything that could be affecting it.

Have you seen the caresheets?
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.78361/
and
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/leopard-tortoise-care-sheet.63792/
Check them, for more information on temps as well as diet, substrate and humidity etc.
 
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gelablake

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Hi and welcome,
The shell looks ok to me, but my leopard was older when I got him, so hopefully someone with who's had a baby leopard will let you know if that's normal or not at his age.
Do you think it's changed since you've had him..........maybe chipped it? Some older pics of him to compare them that may help.
Do you use calcium in his diet?
If you post some pics of his enclosure members can see of there's anything that could be affecting it.

Have you seen the caresheets?
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.78361/
and
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/leopard-tortoise-care-sheet.63792/
Check them, for more information on temps as well as diet, substrate and humidity etc.
Yes, I supplement calcium with the powered and also gave a cuttlebone
 

TortillaTheTortioise

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My hatchling has the same thing at the ends of its shell, read somewhere its from too much vitamin D or calcium. Ill try find the link

- Thin, translucent, often sharp edges on the marginals: Often indicates too much calcium or vitamin D. Check diet and carefully file sharp edges if needed.
From Tortoise library symptoms

(It won't let me copy link)
 

Tom

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Hello! I received our 6 month old leopard tortoise one month ago. Its humidity is high, temperatures around 85f, and usb lamp during the day. It is eating and looks healthy when interacting with it. However, its shell looks more jagged and I don't know if this is normal, if it is how they grow or if it something I should be worried

That is a normal healthy looking leopard tortoise. Feed it and care for it right and all should be good. Please do not file or damage the scutes or scute edges in any way. The scute edges are supposed to be that way and it has nothing to do with calcium or D3.
 

Tom

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My hatchling has the same thing at the ends of its shell, read somewhere its from too much vitamin D or calcium. Ill try find the link

- Thin, translucent, often sharp edges on the marginals: Often indicates too much calcium or vitamin D. Check diet and carefully file sharp edges if needed.
From Tortoise library symptoms

(It won't let me copy link)
There is a lot of bad tortoise care info circulating out there in the world. It looks like you found some of it.
 

Tom

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Yeah, I googled sharp edges on edge of tortoises shell and that came up, I was worried my tortoise was getting too much sun or something lol
The internet is a blessing and a curse all at the same time, isn't it? I'm glad you found your way here, but sad that the bad info is so common and prevalent. I'm looking forward to more pics and info on your thread. I need to learn more about Chersina, so all the info you share is like gold to me. :)
 

Yvonne G

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There is a lot of bad tortoise care info circulating out there in the world. It looks like you found some of it.
@Tom - he says it came from the Tortoise Library. That's a link we encourage people to peruse. I'll have to go see if I can find it and see what to do about it.
 

Yvonne G

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Tom

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@Tom - he says it came from the Tortoise Library. That's a link we encourage people to peruse. I'll have to go see if I can find it and see what to do about it.
Mark and I have certainly disagreed before. I just don't argue with him because most of what he says is about RFs and I don't have a leg to stand on.
 

Yvonne G

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Mark and I have certainly disagreed before. I just don't argue with him because most of what he says is about RFs and I don't have a leg to stand on.
I sent him an email asking about the statement.
 

gelablake

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Thank you for all of your help!! So happy to hear I shouldn’t worry about it, just want to raiSe Morty the Torty in the healthiest way!
 

Yvonne G

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Personally, I don't think it has anything to do with calcium or vitamin D. Most babies have this translucent edge to their carapace. It's nothing to worry about.
 

biochemnerd808

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That translucent edge in the carapace (pictured above on a leo, but Russian tortoises, Greeks and Hermans definitely have that too) is normal. The keratin (outer layer) of the shell extends past the opaque oscified (bony) part of the shell.
I think it looks super cool. But aside from that, it's normal and healthy.

I wonder if the article being referenced that states Vit D surplus or calcium surplus as the cause might be about adult tortoises? Does it show photos?
 

Thomas tortoise

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That translucent edge in the carapace (pictured above on a leo, but Russian tortoises, Greeks and Hermans definitely have that too) is normal. The keratin (outer layer) of the shell extends past the opaque oscified (bony) part of the shell.
I think it looks super cool. But aside from that, it's normal and healthy.

I wonder if the article being referenced that states Vit D surplus or calcium surplus as the cause might be about adult tortoises? Does it show photos?

Umm. This was posted a year ago... Lol but i noticed my sulcata has the same thing.
 

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